Need counselling? Discover how to start

Change, growth and personal development are necessary to life. For fulfillment to happen, need for change must move beyond easy wish. The act of looking for help to enhance yourself implies both a willingness to change and the power to do so.

Most individuals seek counselling at this time of need. Invariably when you search the counselling section of any directory you find a long list of names. Many regularly ask the best way to choose a therapist that best suits their situation.

To aid in this search we have provided guidelines so that you feel more assured about selecting a counselor. When you eventually make the call, you need to know what to go looking for and the sorts of points to ask.

Qualifications: It would appear obvious but they have to know what they are doing. You would like them to be qualified for the problems you want to work on. Few people ask the qualifications of their counsellor or may know whether the qualifications they have are relevant. Your counsellor must have completed an applicable university undergraduate degree. Many courses need up to four years training such as the Social Work Degree and Psychology Degree or a Masters in Counselling.

Experience: The amount of years of experience counts in counselling just like it does in many other professions. The length of training and experience reflects the age group of counsellors that will have life experience of their own to draw on. Ask the age of your counselor.

Gender: Unless you have a very strong opinion on this, the gender doesn’t always matter. The most vital issue is the rapport that develops with both the counsellor and you. This will occur over the initial few sessions making the gender of the counsellor a non-issue.

Organisation or Independent: Are they an independent practitioner, or are they supported part of an organisation? The independent practitioner is simply that, determining his or her own measure of responsibility. An advantage of an organisation is the formal structure of professional supervision and responsibility for the therapist.

Services: Look at the counsellor or organisation’s Website and read thru the data on offer. The Site will give you an impression of the service ideals and principles. Look at their Vision and Core Value statements. Is it something that you feel okay with? The service you contact should be well placed to offer appointments during the day, in the evening and possibly on Weekends to offer you flexibility.

Where: Find a location that suits, but do not be put off by travel. Distance can too easily be used to avoid making an appointment. Remember it isn’t an everyday event.

Cost: Here your financials may put a natural limitation on cost. Weighing out your investment in counselling against other costs can make it appear inexpensive.

Taking time to make the correct choice is essential knowing you can entrust your future to a caring and competent professional is critical.

Chris Dawson is a highly qualified marriage counselling expert, helping couples resolve relationship issues. His intensive expertise, of over 25 years expertise, is highly sort after all around the world in his position as Clinical Director for Humaneed, a leading Marriage and Relationship Counselling Service based in Australia.

Save Your Marriage – Five Tips To Save Your Marriage

Live in the same house but feel miles apart? This is more common then you think. As routine sets in and daily life continues to evolve you spend less time with your spouses and more time doing the mundane daily tasks, but it doesn’t have to be. You can stop your divorce.

1. Go out and try something new as a couple. Stop your fighting long enough to agree to try a new hobby or sport. Find some old golf clubs and play a few rounds of golf. Go exploring in the woods on a hike, pull out your bike and find a trail to follow; do anything that you don’t normally do. This will help you find a new and quite possibly exciting side to your lover.

2. Talk about what is wrong. You’ve been upset for over a week because you got your hair cut and he didn’t notice. Unless you made a drastic change, he most likely will not notice it near as quickly as your friends will. Or quite possibly he did notice it and didn’t particularly care for it. He might be keeping quite to spare your feelings but you still got your feelings hurt. Let him know. As nice as it would be, he is not capable of reading your mind. So let him know that you cut your hair and your upset he didn’t notice. Or tell him your mad as the dickens. Just be prepared, if he did notice and doesn’t care for it, your going to be even angrier!

3. Write a letter. It might seem strange to write a letter to someone who is sitting across the breakfast table, but if you are not communicating any other way, it might be a safer option. List all the points that you want to make and then write. Don’t worry about how it is worded, you are not going for Wordsworth, after all. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. And always remember: do not ever put into writing today what you do not want to be reminded of tomorrow.

4. Look for counseling. If you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work then it might be time to try marriage counseling. The wisdom of someone connect might be the ticket. Think about it, when you complain to your friends they will agree with you and the same goes for your spouse. You need to list your grievances with someone who will not take sides and can see the bigger picture. The counselor can then lead you down the right path.

5. As a last resort consider a trial separation. If all else has failed, agree to spend a weekend apart with no communication of any kind. The time alone will give you time to reflect and renew. Besides, you know the old saying: absence makes the heart grow fonder.

If you are wondering if you can “stop your divorce” the answer is most likely yes, you can. It can take some hard work but if you truly want to save your marriage then it is time to take action in the right direction. Learn how to save your marriage and read a detailed Save My Marriage Today review.